Ruggero One to Watch
Talented Japanese sophomore
Ruggero adds no small amount of intrigue heading into the UAE Derby sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2). In a race that is looking like a showdown between Godolphin’s
Gold Town and Coolmore’s
Mendelssohn, it is highly exciting to see a proven dirt stakes winner adding flavour from Japan. A winner of the Cattleya Sho over 1600m on November 25th, he exits a good third in the Hyacinth Stakes over the same course and distance at Tokyo Racecourse.
A great-grandson of Sunday Silence, he is out of a mare by 1999 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Almutawakel. His dam, Silver Cup, won the Italian 1000 Guineas (Premio Regina Elena) and a pair of G2s for Martin Schwartz and trainer Bobby Frankel in the United States.
Another from Japan,
Taiki Ferveur, is a possibility to make the trip. A progressive type, he began to wake up at the tail end of his juvenile season and was a fine second, one spot to the good of Ruggero, in the Hyacinth Stakes, the same race Epicharis used en route to a nose loss last year in the UAE Derby.
The Al Bastikiya (Listed) over the UAE Derby’s course and 1900m distance will give locals a better idea of who will move on to the big day. Masar, the highest rated in the field, makes his dirt debut for Charlie Appleby, but one must also respect stablemate Last Voyage, who ran on well to be third in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over a 1600m trip that seems well below his long-striding optimum. Another worth watching is
Yulong Warrior, who should relish the step up in trip from a 1600m maiden victory, being a son of Street Cry (like Gold Town) out of a Bernardini mare from the family of multiple G1 winner Wild Rush.
Current UAE Derby Possibles (not necessarily invitees): Mendelssohn, Taiki Ferveur, Ruggero, Gold Town, Seahenge, Threeandfourpence, Gotti, Masar, Yulong Warrior, Last Voyage, All Out Blitz
Unedited Press Release: Dubai Racing Club